Jolie A. Cizewski
QCD & Hadron Physics Town Meeting
January 14, 2006, Rutgers University
A Vision for Nuclear Science
Education and Outreach
An outgrowth of the
Workshop on
Education & Public Outreach in Nuclear Science
Brookhaven National Lab, Dec. 1-3, 2006
Charge to NSAC – 2007 LRP
“An important dimension of your plan should be the role of nuclear physics
in advancing the broad interests of society and ensuring the Nation’s
competitiveness in the physical sciences and technology. Education of
young scientists is central to the mission of both agencies and integral to
any vision of the future of the field. We ask NSAC to discuss the
contribution of education in nuclear science to academia, medicine,
security, industry and government, and strategies to strengthen and
improve the education process and to build a more diverse research
community. Basic research plays a very important role in the economic
competitiveness and security of our Nation. We ask that NSAC identify
areas where nuclear physics is playing a role in meeting society’s needs
and how the program might enhance its contributions in maintaining the
Nation’s competitiveness in science and technology.”
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Process

Our workshop looked at


What large problems do we face?
Goals for meeting those problems must







Be actionable (no motherhood statements!)
Specifically address nuclear science needs
Build on existing strengths and programs
Maximize the benefit/resource ratio
Once we decided on goals, we discussed strategies for
implementation
Limited number of goals (2) to make implementation
manageable
We used the NSAC Education report and surveys
therein as a starting point
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Competitiveness

‘Gathering Storm’# and other recent reports paint a
dire picture for the future of America in S&T

Shirley Jackson calls it the “Quiet Crisis”, driven by&:




The aging of the science and engineering workforce launched
fifty years ago by Sputnik and the "Space Race."
The decline in the number of young people interested and
prepared to enter science and engineering.
And, post 9/11 policy and better opportunities abroad which
make it harder to lure international scientists and students to
work and study in America.
These reports have led to the American
Competitiveness Initiative and bipartisan support for
increased funding for science, training more science &
math teachers, etc.
#
&
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11463.html
http://www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/index.html
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Meeting the national need
It is in the national interest as well as the interest of individual students
and scholars that the Federal Government—with other stakeholders in
the S&E workforce—take action to guide the advanced education of
scientists and engineers to better align with expected national skill
needs. Areas of national skill needs include. . . Federal mission-related
fields where enrollments are falling and projected needs rising, e.g.,
nuclear physics and engineering.
National Science Board
The Science and Engineering Workforce:
Realizing America’s Potential (2003)
[http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/documents/2003/nsb0369/nsb0369.pdf]
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Nuclear Science PhDs Meet National Needs
2004 PhD +5-10 Survey, NSAC Education Report
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
S&E Employment is projected to increase
Need for physical scientists is
expected to increase by 14% from
2002-2012
Science and Engineering Indicators 2006#
# http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind06/
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Physics Faculty “Age” Distribution


≈7500 Tenure/tenuretrack faculty
Number over 60 ≈ twice
under 40


More skewed in PhD-granting
departments
≈3%/year estimated annual
retirements
Age Distribution of Physics Faculty
Universities & 4-year colleges, 2000
Faculty %
< 35
5
35-39
11
40-44
14
45-49
11
50-54
13
55-59
14
60-64
15
65-69
11
70-74
4
≥75
2
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Source: AIP
Percent of People
2003 Age distribution
National Laboratory nuclear scientists
100%
Over 50
Under 50
80%
The laboratories represented
(ANL, BNL, JLab, LANL, LBNL,
LLNL, and ORNL) are identified
only by numbers. Taken from
NSAC Educ Report
60%
40%
20%
0%
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Solved problem in past decade by
attracting international PhD students
Nuclear Science: (2004 survey)
40% graduate students
non-U.S. citizens
71% postdocs
non-U.S. citizens
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Will they stay?
•Indicators:
•Number of foreign students planning to stay is leveling off or decreasing
•More opportunities in their home countries
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Increasing number of PhDs in
nuclear science for national needs


Decrease in new PhDs/year 
2004 NSAC recommended
increase to 100/year
To meet national needs



Basic research
Higher education
Applications of nuclear science






Nuclear energy
Nuclear medicine
National & homeland security
Environmental remediation
Nuclear safeguards
Industry & government
number of PhDs

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
year
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Feeding the PhD Pipeline:
Undergraduate Education & Research

If there are 5000 bachelor degree majors in
physics why do we only produce ≈70
PhDs/year?


Only 4% of 1st year grad students plan to study
nuclear physics (AIP survey)
Enhance nuclear science visibility in
undergraduate education and research

Preparing future PhD students in nuclear science
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Recommendation #1:
Undergraduate Education
The nuclear science community should increase its
involvement and visibility in undergraduate
education and research, so as to increase the
number of nuclear science PhDs, and the number
of scientists, engineers and physics teachers
exposed to nuclear science.




Outcome: Increased number of PhDs in nuclear science
Outcome: Increased number of scientists and engineers
exposed to nuclear science
Outcome: Increased number of physical science teachers
exposed to nuclear science
Reach IN to our community and our traditional activities at
colleges and universities and national laboratories
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Why undergrad educ & research?
From NSAC Education report Graduate Student Survey:


Only 28% of graduate students had an advanced undergraduate course
in nuclear physics or chemistry.
87% of US males and 92% of US females had an undergraduate
research experience.
Strategy to increase the involvement & visibility in
undergraduate education & research:



Expand the undergraduate research experience
In education, ensure that undergraduate physics majors are exposed
to nuclear physics early and often
Make nuclear science visible to as many undergraduates as possible
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Inreach: Best practices and future
implementation strategies

Research

Present best practices



Future strategies



Pre-research summer school for rising juniors
Integrated mentoring
Education

Future strategies


UG research at Tennessee Tech – 11 TTU Graduates have attained PhDs or
are in graduate school in nuclear physics
Conference Experience for UGs
Workshop on undergrad curric
Visibility

Future strategies
Distinguished lecturers  Visit small schools with
no nuclear faculty

2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Why Outreach?


Nuclear science research: active and continues to strive to
understand nature
Beneficial effects of applications of nuclear science and the
activities of nuclear scientists





Diagnosis and treatment of disease
Helping to ensure adequate supplies of electrical power
Guarding against biological agents in the mail
Guarding U.S. borders against transport of dangerous materials
Ensuring U.S. ability to defend itself
BUT


“Nuclear” is an unreasonably scary word to many people
We need nuclear science to be understood and appreciated as




Exciting and modern science
Value-added to society
Worth supporting
Goal: Inspired students & informed citizenry and public servants
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Why Outreach?


Nuclear science research: active and continuing to push back our understanding of nature
Beneficial effects of applications of nuclear science and the activities of nuclear scientists





Diagnosis and treatment of disease
Helping to ensure adequate supplies of electrical power
Guarding against biological agents in the mail
Guarding U.S. borders against transport of dangerous materials
Ensuring U.S. ability to defend itself
BUT


“Nuclear” is an unreasonably scary word to many people
We need nuclear science to be understood and appreciated as




Exciting and modern science
Value-added to society
Worth supporting
Goal: Inspired students & informed citizenry and public servants
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Recommendation #2
The nuclear science community should develop and
disseminate materials and hands-on activities that
illustrate and demonstrate core nuclear science
principles to a broad array of audiences, so as to
enhance public understanding and appreciation of
nuclear science and its value to society.

Outcome: Enhanced public understanding and appreciation of
nuclear science and its value to society
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Strategies for Outreach

Undergraduate


Pre-service and in-service teachers




Research-related activities
Middle-school students


Knowledge of nuclear science concepts
Access to nuclear scientists as a resource
Tools for introducing nuclear science into the classroom
High school students


Extend strategies for UG physics students throughout campus,
to educate our future leaders, teachers & citizens
Spark a curiosity and interest in science
General public

Move beyond fear of word ‘nuclear’ to an appreciation and
understanding of nuclear science and its value
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Outreach: Best practices and
future implementation strategies

Undergraduate

Present best practices


High school teachers and students


Present best practices: PAN, Quarknet, Plasma camp
Future strategies


An expanded summer camp (at national labs?) for high
school teachers and students which takes best of above
models
Public outreach

Future strategies:



Clark University WMD course –general science credit
National public speakers’ bureau
With access to library of materials
Qui ck Ti me ™ an d a
TIFF (LZW) de co mpre ss or
a re ne ed ed to s ee th i s pi c tu re.
All stakeholders future strategies



Nationally coordinated website
Partner within the community and with other organizations (e.g.
DOE-NE, ANS) to develop material and activities
Seek recognition for outreach as a valued activity of all
scientists
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
BEAMS at JLab
Diversity

We don’t specifically mention diversity in our recommendations or
list of strategies. However,



We are well aware that if STEM demographics reflected the diversity
of the population, we would not have a crisis in this country
Any inreach or outreach activities we embark on will naturally improve
the diversity of the field
We recommend a coordinated nationwide effort to aggressively
recruit under-represented groups into all present and future
programs

It doesn’t work to compete against each other for the few students
out there now, we want to grow the pool, e.g.



Developing brochures and other material conveying the excitement of
nuclear science as a career
Extending distinguished lecturer series to predominantly underrepresented group campuses
Integrated mentoring especially during transitions (e.g. UG to Grad)
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Interventions to reach goal to increase
number of PhDs for national needs






Prestigious fellowships in nuclear science for national
needs
Training grants to prepare grad. students & postdocs in
nuclear science for national needs
Shortening time to degree for Ph.D. students.
Grad. courses in nuclear science, including grad. lab
courses
Short courses or summer schools in nuclear science that
focus on both basic and applied research and training
Professional development activities
Many of these recommended in 2004 by NSAC
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Workshops at DNP Meetings


Invite nuclear science alumni to
workshop at DNP meeting to talk
about current careers outside of
basic research & higher educ
E.g. Sonja Dieterich


PhD from JLab/Rutgers
Currently medical physicist in clinical
radiation medicine, Georgetown
University Medical Center
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Summary

The community is doing a lot of great things now at all levels


Two biggest problems we see:



See activity booklet
Increase number of PhDs in nuclear science to meet national
needs in basic research and applications
Improve public perception of nuclear science
Our Strategies


Undergraduate research and education
Coordinated outreach effort
2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
Goals for unified collective effort
Inreach:
The nuclear science community should increase its involvement
and visibility in undergraduate education and research, so as to
increase the number of nuclear science PhDs, and the number
of scientists, engineers and physics teachers exposed to nuclear
science.
 Outreach:
The nuclear science community should develop and disseminate
materials and hands-on activities that illustrate and demonstrate
core nuclear science principles to a broad array of audiences, so
as to enhance public understanding and appreciation of nuclear
science and its value to society.



2007 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan: A Vision for Education and Outreach
THANK YOU
Jolie A. Cizewski
cizewski@rutgers.edu